Hello to the three people who, a couple of times a year, check my blog!

Christmas

It’s Christmas and I’m the only one up. I was always the first one up as a kid on Christmas morning, and apparently that holds true as an adult as well. Can’t believe it. Aliza is a big talker about how she’s going to get up in the middle of the night to see if Santa had come yet. It’s 6:30 and she’s not up yet. I’m ready for her anytime — camera in hand.
The Christmas Blizzard of 2009 has basically lived up to expectations, so far. It’s stunning to see all the heavy snow everywhere. After the kids open presents we’ll have to dress them and throw them all out in a snowbank.
Our cable is out, I’m sure due to the pounds of snow sitting on the dish on the roof. Luckily we have dozens of videos the boys can watch. I remember one summer storm where the power went out for a couple of hours, and Zack was so upset with the change in the routine, and in the atmosphere — the darkness in the middle of the day. He whined and cried and I rocked him and tried to calm him, and he fell asleep. In the middle of the day. It wasn’t unprecedented, but it was pretty unusual for him. He just couldn’t take it, and so he “checked out” for awhile. Poor kid. So, good thing we can put on a video and simulate normalcy for him today.
Last night we let the kids open one present. So this means Aliza opened one present, and I helped AJ open one while Zack was across the room, not paying attention. AJ opened a package of soft balls with Wonder Pets on them, and we got a little paper off it so you could see what was in there and he yelled “ball!” and got so excited he couldn’t finish opening it. It was the most enthusiasm I’ve gotten from either boy opening a present ever in their lives. I wish I had 10 more wrapped up under the tree.